A star is born

By Atama Raganivatu

Being a member of a family of achievers can sometimes be diffi cult, as Mary Lose freely testifies.

Lose is now a highly-esteemed actor, having gained countless fans around the world due to her portrayal of Samoan nurse Ana Fa’asolo in the internationally acclaimed television drama “Shortland Street”. But she readily recalls how, only a few years ago, her resentment of the suc cess attained by elder brothers Willie, Joseph and Richard almost turned her into

a “no-hoper”.

Joseph is a prominent journalist in their home town, Auckland, and Richard is security head for the celebrated English rock band ÜB4O, but it was Willie, a key member of Tonga’s 1995 rugby World Cup team, who particularly exasperated her.

“I hated him when we were younger,” she recalls nowadays with a laugh. “Willie (who is five years her senior) was head prefect at our school and captain of the New Zealand Secondary Schools XV, while I was struggling academically and believing I had no special talents of my own. I developed something of an inferior

ity complex.”

Being the youngest of a family which included seven brothers and one sister did n’t help her self-esteem either.

“The boys used to be mean to me; pulling my hair, teasing and making me do the household chores,” Lose chortles.

“I must admit though, I often used to burst into tears just to get them into trouble with our parents. As the youngest, I felt I deserved special attention and that is prob ably how I originally developed my acting

ability.”

Today, Lose today looks back at what most would dismiss as merely a classic sis ter-brother relationship light-heartedly, but she admits that it was a major factor in the “attitude problem” which be-devilled her when fourteen.

“I was really bad when in fourth form at school. My attendance record was dread ful. When I did bother to turn up, I would be very disrespectful to the teachers and make no attempt to leam things I thought had no relevance to my life when I left,”

Lose concedes.

“Eventually, my parents became so incensed that I was sent to my elder broth ers who live in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia, with the idea they would make me realise I was frittering my life away. Surfer’s Paradise is a beautiful place, yet, despite this and the lovely weather there, I just spent the entire time indoors; sulking and watching television.

“However, while watching television, I became fascinated by current affairs pro

grammes, especially those presented by

(Australian) Jana Wendt and (American) Oprah Winfrey. Neither were, at that time, known in New Zealand and they totally captivated me. Suddenly, I had role models and knew exactly what I wanted in life - I yearned to be a television journalist. Prior to then, my only ambition had been to become a doctor. This disappeared as soon as I leamt seven years of training were required to pass through medical school!”

Thus, Lose had a career goal when returning to New Zealand and, realising how only dedicated study would enable her to achieve it, she amazed her parents and teachers with a transformed outlook.

She became head girl before leaving school!

Lose then studied journalism at Manukau Technical College in South Auckland and attended a film school before gaining her first jobs in New Zealand television. She was a reporter for several news programmes, including the high profile “What Now?”, “Infocus” and

“Get Together”.

However, the media is a fickle business and New Zealand’s is fickler than most.

Journalistic work suddenly dried-up and

Lose was considering quitting to seek a “regular job” when her agent suggested she should contemplate acting and audi tion for “Shortland Street”.

Devotees of the soap opera may recall Lose’s first role was as a truculent single mother, Dayna Paxie, who claimed ambu lance driver Sam Aleni (played by Samoan heart throb Rene Naufahui) to be the father of her child. Trivia addicts will probably already know that Sam’s on-screen wife, T P, was played by a cousin of Lose’s, Elizabeth Skeen.

A year later, Lose returned to the show depicting Ana, who is constantly rebelling against her stem upbringing. It is a role she can identify with.

“I can certainly relate to Ana, although she is Samoan and lam Tongan,” Lose acknowledges. “I too was brought up in a strict religious environment and sometimes felt my family tried to smother me. Being the youngest, I basically had eight fathers.

I suppose I did rebel, but now I realise my parents did a wonderful job in raising us as they did. We learnt to love ourselves and be able to express our feelings. I some times shudder when I think what might have happened to me without the support and influence of my family.”

Lose makes no secret of the fact she adores her work, despite the long hours required to learn lines, rehearse and film.

She has just one reservation about “Shortland Street”.

“I have retained my love for journal ism,” she reveals. “Jana Wendt remains an idol and I still desperately want to front a prestigious current affairs programme like she does. My one worry is that people will come to remember me solely from “Shortland Street” and I won’t be consid ered for presenting positions as a result.

It’s not a great concern, but it lurks in the back of my mind. I also have aspirations to one day become a director.

“I love working under pressure. I love

to be busy. I love working in the television industry. Once you become involved in the business, you can’t help it getting into your

heart, your soul, your blood. ’’Still only 23 years of age, Mary has plenty of time to fulfil her dreams. If deter

mination is any indication, she will cer tainly achieve it. ■

Mary Lose...Shortland Street’s rising star